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Crossroads
By stretch | Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 3:19 a.m. UTC
Many of you have undoubtedly noticed the sporadic posting over the past couple weeks. This was due to my traveling from Iraq, through Barcelona and Washington, DC, to settle where I am now in Fairfax, VA. Fear not, I intend to keep on bloggin', though there may be some changes relevant to my new employment. Depending what path I take, I may begin to write for a commercial entity, which may impact my ability to continue blogging on Packet Life, both legally and with regard to free time.
If I am forced to reduce the amount of time I can spend writing for Packet Life, I'd like to first have a good sense of which direction you guys (the readers) would like to see the blog go. I've listed the few options I've been rolling around in my head in the poll at left (RSS readers visit the link below to vote). Let me know what you think! And if you have a suggestion that isn't listed in the poll be sure to leave a comment.
Posted in Announcements
Comments
February 17, 2009 at 6:05 a.m. UTC
Can you plaese let us to download the Blog archive as single downloadable file?
February 17, 2009 at 6:06 a.m. UTC
I'm biased, Jeremy. I'd, of course, prefer the fourth option (keep the site as it is), but life has to come first (and none of us are paying your bills, I'm sure). "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do", right?
Welcome back to .us, BTW.
February 17, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. UTC
Thanks for all your time and hard work you put into your blog. It has been very educational and helpful. However, your own personal goals must be met. Your regulars will still follow your blog even if you update less frequently.
February 17, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. UTC
I second that. IF its possible, keep the site exactly how it is :)
February 17, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. UTC
I like the length of your current articles, they tend to be focused and in my humble opinion that makes them worth the read, I'm not having to wade through a lot of "fluff" to get to the point your trying to make. I'd prefer you keep the length of the articles as is, and if the real world means the posts are less frequent then I'm willing to wait. After a while you burn out on this anyway. Let us know when you get your new job, either here or on Twitter.
February 17, 2009 at 1:09 p.m. UTC
I'll echo the first two comments - love the blog, but if a change was required, I would probably prefer "less frequent, more in-depth." Your livelihood is obviously more important than any of this, though.
An updated archive file would be great, too...
February 17, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. UTC
Post when you can, nothing says you have to post every day... your site already has enough content already to make it an excellent reference point.
February 17, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. UTC
Hey Jeremy, thanks for another update. I wanted to chime in and say that I absolutely love your blog, and have shared your blog and a link to your cheat sheets with every tech professional I meet!
If your time becomes tight, I think I would rather see frequent updates with what you are working on rather than infrequent large articles. If you mixed in an in-depth article every few weeks that would be great, but still letting everyone know what technologies you are working on, what web resources you have found, and generally what you are up to would be very nifty!
-EMP
February 17, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. UTC
Just a moment of silence. PLEASE DON'T let this site die !!
Please, This is possibly my favorite Cisco Site that I know of.
I like the "Right down on the bottom shelf" or "Where the rubber meets the road" type of information you give. Charts and Cheat Sheets, topics that help the average engineer. I feel like trying to copy all of your stuff to a local directory so I do not lose it... If you stop blogging because of a new job, then I shall cry, or at least sniffle a lot !
The worst part is I am not sure there is anything that can be done to change this situation.. And I just found your site not too long ago.
Not cool at all, oh well Good luck and I wish you the best. Sniff Sniff, oh no here I go.... Peace Out!
February 17, 2009 at 2:35 p.m. UTC
So are congratulations in order? did you find work?
February 17, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. UTC
Can you write more frequent, more in depth articles? That is what I prefer;-)
Seriously though, you write well and seem to pick timely and interesting material. If you go to work for a professional services company or a training company perhaps they would encourage your work, even support it.
I really enjoy your cheat sheets, and would like to see additional topics such as Security sheets. IOS FW, IOS VPN options, ASA firewall stuff could all stand cheat sheet treatment.
Also, perhaps you could get a helper to work on the sheets or the packet challenges.
February 17, 2009 at 3:54 p.m. UTC
Whatever schedule works best for you man. Good luck with all your future plans. Anything is better than a hot zone.
February 17, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. UTC
I'm a frequent visitor to your site although this is my first time posting. Your site helped me pass the CCNA exam about 8 months ago, for that I am forever grateful. ;) As are others I would hate to see you go but change is a constant, and if we are not constantly changing then we are left behind. Thanks for all of your contributions to the networking world.
February 17, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. UTC
I think it would be great if the site could stay the same, but I assumed that it cant stay the same or stech wouldnt have posted this poll in the first place.
February 17, 2009 at 8:28 p.m. UTC
As others have said, focused, straight to the point articles is what I have found most useful and enjoyable to read.
It would be great to hear about your new position Stretch, I know a lot of people who visit this site have really rooted for you ( me included ) since you announced you were leaving Iraq. Given the current climate, it would also be good to hear that experienced network engineers are still in demand despite the depressing news articles.
When are you taking the CCIE lab? :)
All the best.
February 17, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. UTC
Sorry, couldn't resist voting for ramen noodles!
You've been doing great so far, so I'm sure the blog will be fine.
I'm really interested to hear about your new gig.
February 18, 2009 at 2:09 a.m. UTC
I'll take your content any way I can get it.
February 18, 2009 at 3:28 a.m. UTC
I like packetlife the way it is, but family and career should come first.
If a compromise is in order I'd vote for frequent but less in depth posts. You seem to have the ability to get your point across without being too verbose.
Welcome back to the states and best of luck.
February 18, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. UTC
After reading through more of my fellow Packetlifers comments more frequent shorter articles with maybe a big in depth one every 2 - 3 months or so would be great.
As many people have pointed out you don't need many words to explain the point your trying to get across. Like I said you're a great writer :)
February 18, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. UTC
Keep up the good work . good luck in your search
February 18, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. UTC
I also voted for ramen noodles, but agree with most of the rest here. If you have to update less frequently, that's what has to be done. I check 3-4 Cisco-leaning websites a day and yours is easily the best written and most informative. In whatever format, I hope you keep up the good work.
February 18, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. UTC
I very much enjoy the type of tidbits of knowledge that one wouldn't find in a book; when you share your real-life experiences that help all of us become more than just book-smart.
February 18, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. UTC
So does that mean ITT has a job opening? Anything isn't better than a hot zone. I'll take the risk of being shot or blown up over sales any day. Then again I've done it before so maybe my perception is skewed.
I voted but current length less regular work for me. Hopefully you've got a solid offer on the table because unemployment sucks after more than a week.
February 18, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. UTC
You have built for yourself using packetlife.net brand identity. this is worth more than any paycheck writing for another outlet.
I would seriously think twice about taking any job that may impact your brand so to speak. From your current position and following you could go into vlogging, podcasting and many other things.
February 18, 2009 at 6:24 p.m. UTC
stretch, keep building the site, pass the lab, and become the next chris bryant. you could do better than him.
February 18, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. UTC
Why not open the blog to other adequate writers?
February 18, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. UTC
i like the idea of opening it to other possible bloggers, assuming you review/approve the postings. that may take more time though.
good luck man!
February 20, 2009 at 12:24 a.m. UTC
Hey Jeremy,
If your new job works out, maybe they'll let you blog on their site! The same great info, just in a different place.
You never know -- It could happen ;-p
February 22, 2009 at 1:00 a.m. UTC
Do what is best for you....but it would be great if you can keep the site up....
Welcome back!!!!
February 22, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. UTC
One of best maintained networking blogs I have ever seen. I would shorter frequent articles. This gives us direction to think about. Most of the times we can do some research on it after seeing short article from you.
All the best for your new job.
February 22, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. UTC
The way you have been running packetlife has obviously been working. Don't change the formula. Please keep your articles the same length it doesn't matter if your updates are less frequent.
February 23, 2009 at 1:34 a.m. UTC
Whichever direction you decide to take, I wish you the best of luck. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and creating the most interesting networking blog I've come across.
February 23, 2009 at 4:41 a.m. UTC
I try my best to check packet life for new blog entries at least twice a week. Your cheat sheets are excellent however the content on your blog usually out ways them.
Keep up the good work, I would hate to scratch this site off my list of websites to visit. Finding "good" telecommunications blogs is difficult at best.
March 10, 2009 at 9:15 p.m. UTC
I'd like to vote for none of the above. I want to see you write a couple of book on networking. Most networking books are very poorly written, but you've got a great ability for explaining things in a clear, enjoyable to read format.
April 3, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. UTC
Thanks for all your time and hard work you put into your blog , I think that it is a greate job to write in war enviroment I am from iraq and I know what is the stituation there , so you will find your self having allot of time to write .... and you will find many people like to help you ,